A good question for the experts in here....

[The Icky Sticky]

Hello everyone!

I have a problem going on and can't seem to figure it out. I have a 78 Elky with a 350, approx. 330 hp. It has a Holly Street Dominator intake with an rpm range of idle to 7000 rpm. This is an emissions intake , so it has a spot on it for an egr valve. It also has Doug Thorley Headers with a y pipe. Fairly mild motor.

This is what 's going on. When I first fired up the motor, I had an Edelbrock performer series carb (emissions) 600 cfm w/ elctric choke. Model 1400. I ran the motor for my guess is 10 minutes at max. I shut it down because the passenger side of the headers started glowing. And I mean GLOWING cherry red. Only the passenger side. I thought it would be a good idea to let the motor be for the night because I figured I might not even be able to start it back up since the motor was new. I talked to several people and heard 1) Sounds like a vacuum leak. 2) Timing is way off 3) Not enough fuel. Too Lean.

I just happen to run across another carb. I picked up a Road Demon. Nice carb!! Put it on my motor. Fired it up and the headers did not glow!! It ran extremely rich, so I jetted it down to make it driveable. Now its road worthy. I've put about 100 miles on it and have had a temporary moving permit to do so. Its a 78 so I still have to smog it. So I decided to put the Edelbrok back on because using the Demon will not get me pass smog. I put on, and the headers on the passenger side started to glow.

Im really looking for suggestions if anyone can give me some.

Thanks!!

[HillbilySailor]

Sounds like that Eldelbrock 600cfm is not enough carb for your motor (running WAY lean). Is this a new carb? If not, Edelbrock makes smog legal carbs with bigger cfm's. If I'm not mistaken, they have a section for GM factory carbs to replace the ol' Rochester factory carbs that used to be put on GM cars in the 70's and early 80's Those have bigger cfm's and are smog legal. Here's another suggestion. Look at Holley's new "Street Avenger" carb. From what I hear, it's a really good carb, but don't know if it is smog legal. Hope this helps!

[0utlaw]

From the OUTLAW-
Try these tips
I believe you have a reg type vacuum advance distributor--
You're are running way too lean or RETARDED or possible clogged converter- you MAY have a slight intake leak. Try a carb spray around intake runners to see if rpm picks up.
Another idea (Any milling on the heads changes intake sealing surface angles making possible leaks. Also be sure your EGR mounting is not leaking.)
Hillbily is right- a 650 Holley or Edelbrock (vac secondary) is more suited for that motor. Be sure the carb gasket does not leak. Use spray again. You still should be able to get either one thru emissions. (If you have to, run a couple cans of ISOPROPHYL dry gas in the tank at emission check time.)
Your timing in a stock distributor should be at least 8 -10 degrees at around 700 rpm- if you got medium springs from a dist kit- try 10-12 degrees. Check to be sure your dist vacuum can is working. Be sure all plugs are firing using a Windex spray on each header pipe. ( if it doesn't evaporate readily, something's not right.
Make sure that your rockers are not overtight- (hydraulic cam) are 0 clearance, then tighten 1/3 of a turn- hot and running.
Get back to me if you can't solve it.
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[hubidaddy]

I had the exact problem years ago with my mustang. I had just buit the engine and put on ceramic headers, performer intake, etc, and I rebuilt a 600cfm performer carb. It would only run with the choke on and the passenger headers would glow red in a couple of minutes. Turned out when I had rebuilt the carb, I had reversed the primary and secondary jets, my dad caught it and fixed it right up!